'Muppet Babies' series reboot due 2018

If the Muppets can't win over the grown-ups in prime time, then maybe it's time to go another familiar route.

After The Muppets failed to take off on ABC last season, their creators/owners are following the old adage: "try, try again.’ And now fans can expect Muppet Babies!

Disney has started production on an updated, reimagined version of Muppet Babies, which revolves around very young versions of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and Miss Nanny. Each episode of the series, geared toward kids ages 4 to 7, will feature two 11-minute stories that follow the Muppet Babies on different adventures, such as building a time machine to flying through outer space. The stories are expected to encourage creative and critical thinking skills by promoting imaginative play.

But don't make your screening party plans too soon: The CG-animated series is slated to have its premiere on Disney Junior in early 2018.

The original Muppet Babies animated series ran from 1984-1991 so there is the potential for the earlier version's fans, who may have children in the target audience now, to check out the new version for sentimental reasons.

"We hope to engage and delight the nostalgic fans while also entertaining new kids, parents and diverse audiences through heart and humor as only the Muppets can deliver," Debbie McClellan, vice president of The Muppets Studio, said in a statement.

"We are proud, and a little bit giddy, to begin production on our new version of the much-loved Muppet Babies. Parents will delight in seeing their favorite Muppets in the mixed-animation style they remember from the original series, and kids will be introduced to this warm and zany world made just right for the Disney Junior audience," Nancy Kanter, executive vice president of original programming and general manager of Disney Junior Worldwide, said in a statement.

The new Muppet Babies is a co-production between Disney Junior, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media's (DCPI) Content & Media group and The Muppets Studio.